Sunday, August 25, 2013

Books written in blood. Most are lost, their Keepers with them. A curse that befell a people. A Kingdom with no King. Life couldn’t get more harrowing for the Elfies, a blend of Elves and Fairies. Or for sixteen-year-old Jules Blaze. Or could it?

For Jules, the heir of a Keeper, no less, suspects his family hides a forgotten secret. It was bad enough that his people, the Elfies of Reign, triggered a curse which reduced the entire inhabitants to a mere inch centuries ago. All because of one Keeper who failed his purpose. Even the King’s Ancient Books, did not help ward off that anathema.

Now, Gehzurolle, the evil lord, and his armies of Scorpents, seem bent on destroying Jules and his family. Why? Gehzurolle’s agents hunt for Jules as he journeys into enemy land to find the truth. Truth that could save him and his family, and possibly even reverse the age-long curse. Provided Jules doesn't get himself killed first.

Thursday, August 22, 2013

The English language contains more than 200 prepositions and prepositional phrases, those words and phrases we use to show relationship: he sat on the chair. She lived next to a dump. They were in a lot of trouble. They show relationships in both time and space. Easy enough, right?
If you need a refresher, Grammar Rock can help you:

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

A few weeks ago, I was having a movie night at home with my friend Anna, and the conversation (as it inevitably does when the two of us are together) turned to books. Anna is the proprietress of Diamonds and Coal Book Reviews, and she had recently accepted an invitation to host Megan Curd and her novel, Steel Lily,on her blog. Eager to get in on the action, I asked Anna to forward me the invitation, and Megan graciously accepted us as a last-minute addition to her blog tour. Yesterday, we brought you the review; today, please enjoy Megan's Author Spotlight.

Monday, August 19, 2013

Exciting things are happening here in Metro Detroit! I have the day off and there’s a new, independent coffee shop down the street from me. Those two things, plus fantastic fall-like weather, combined with the fact that we’re hosting Megan Curd and her fabulous novel, Steel Lily, today, mean that your Assistant Editor is happy as a clam. I could rhapsodize about the leather recliner, soft jazz, fireplace, and house special Mayan Mocha…but why would I do that when I have a truly fantastic book to tell you all about?

Disclaimer:ALL tasks must be completed before pressing the button saying that you did; clicking the button alone does not complete said task in some cases. ALL mandatory tasks must be completed in order to enter the drawing. If any of them are incomplete, all other entries will be considered void.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

A few weeks ago, we received an invitation from our friends at Fae Books to be part of a blog tour for a debut author, Rachel O’Laughlin. Rachel is currently touring the blogosphere with her novel, and she was kind enough to drop by The Bearded Scribe. Not only did Rachel grace us with an interview and giveaway for the tour, but she also gave me an advance copy of the book for review! I really enjoyed reading it and can’t wait to tell you about it, so let’s get to it!

Saturday, August 10, 2013

This sentence, despite its ridiculous length and all the useless things it has to say, with its added phrases and clauses that have no content and give you nothing but extra words, that feels like it should be a run on because it’s so freaking long and is as boring as a sentence is allowed to be—even though it’s a little ironically funny in that it keeps babbling while saying nothing—and maybe makes you feel like pulling out your hair, is not a run on sentence and is one hundred percent grammatically correct.

This sentence is incorrect it is a run on.

This sentence is also incorrect, it is also a run on.

Really? ‘Tis true. The first sentence is a run on because it is two complete sentences put together with no conjunction, no semi-colon, no period—nothing to indicate the end of a sentence.

The second sentence is a special (and annoyingly common) run on called a comma splice: two sentences “spliced” together with a comma.

Because here’s the thing: “run-on” doesn’t mean long; it means you’ve got two sentences you smashed together, even if they are two tiny sentences.

Thursday, August 8, 2013

I stumbled upon a tweet from author Hugh Howey the other day, linking an amazingly heart-wrenching article written by his sister. After reading, I promptly retweeted it, stating that we need more Mollie Howeys in this world. I never expected to get a reply tweet from Hugh, who told me Mollie would love my Twitter handle (@beardedscribe—in case you didn't already know). As fate would have it, Mollie judges Beard & Mustache Competitions, so she definitely Trusts the Beard.

On a whim, I decided to use the opportunity to torture an interview out of Mr. Howey; fortunately, no torturing was required, and Hugh told me to whip up a few questions and send them over in an email. (Technology is amazing, n'est-ce pas?)

Though I have yet to read Howey's Silo Saga—I know, I know...shame on me and I should die a thousand deaths—the literary buzz it has received was (is!) too hard to ignore. I know you're still hung up on me not reading Wool or its sequels, Shiftand Dust (I can hear you huffing from here), but I can guarantee you that they are on my ever-growing To Be Read List—one that, I fear, will outlive me. #readersproblems

Tuesday, August 6, 2013

I bought my Kindle so I wouldn't pack a hundred books with me when I went overseas. (Not that it stopped me from bringing a slew of books home.) Now I have a library that fits in my purse. Worlds of possibilities, opportunities, and freedom all within my grasp and much lighter than carrying Hogwarts around in a bulky bag. We can't all have the awesomeness of Hermione's Purse of Wonders. I received Aversion from the author Kenechi Udogu in return for an honest review. So I got my tea and snuggled up with my Kindle.

Sunday, August 4, 2013

There are two great pieces of news in Metro Detroit today—one, by the time you read this, the library’s 2013 Summer Reading Program will be history and my life will be back to what passes for normal. I love Summer Reading, but I look forward to the end of it the way schoolchildren anticipate summer vacation! The other great piece of news is that our dear friend, Cidney Swanson, has written a new book! Mars Burning, Book Four of the Saving Mars Series, will be published on August 5. To celebrate, we’ll be Spotlighting that book on the day it releases. First, though, here’s a long overdue Spotlight on Book 3, Losing Mars.

Saturday, August 3, 2013

Thankfully, The Rising arrived by post in a timely fashion, and I set fast upon it. Mostly I just lounged on the couch, and my sister sat in her chair while we read. (She is currently reading Skulduggery Pleasant. No words describe the awesomeness of that series. Check it out!) I may have startled her a few times. There was much book violence, by which I mean: hitting the object in question against a pillow whilst making noises of frustration or excitement, depending on what part of the book I was reading. And when the last page was turned, I clutched the book to my heart and implored my sister to read this trilogy next. I seriously don’t know how she puts up with me.

Friday, August 2, 2013

Life has been hectic towards the end of summer. What with finishing up a summer job, revving up for the start of the fall school semester, and trying to fit personal projects and goals in between, sitting down with a short story for review seemed like the perfect relaxation…so I thought. It's been amazingly difficult to find the time to do this author review. Thankfully, I was able to sit with Welcome Home and read it through with one of my kids sitting on one side, a cat curled up on the other. Having read the teaser as a possible paranormal thriller, I felt I could use the support!

I never forgot about Brian. I promised him an interview, and an interview he'd receive. I knew he had a building Fandom already, and I wanted my questions to come from a fan—me. I had read the premise of his series, so I was already a fan...but I couldn't call myself a true fan until I had actually read his work.